Throughout the 2015–16 academic year, special events celebrated the Bienen School of Music’s new Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, commemorating the transformative time in the school’s history.

September 24

Building Dedication
Location: Pick-Staiger Concert Hall and Ryan Center for the Musical Arts

News: Watch a video from the dedication event

September 25-26

Midwest premiere of Sila: The Breath of the World (John Luther Adams), led by Donald Nally, Ben Bolter, Alan Pierson and Doug Perkins 
Location: Ryan Center for the Musical Arts South Lawn

News: Midwest Premiere of ‘Sila’ Captures the Forces of Nature

November 6-8

NUNC! 2: Northwestern University New Music Conference 2, led by Institute for New Music director Hans Thomalla;
Location: various

November 6

Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, University Chorale, Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble, and Anima Singers perform music by two Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition recipients: On the Transmigration of Souls (John Adams) and Oltra Mar (Kaija Saariaho)
Location: Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

November 7

Contemporary Music Ensemble, conducted by Ben Bolter and Alan Pierson 
Location: Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

December 3

Stephen Hough, piano, winner of the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance - Skyline Piano Artist Series
Location: Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

January 10

Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble: “Sound in Architecture,” featuring two iconic works written for the openings of buildings: Nuper rosarum flores (Guillaume Dufay) and Rothko Chapel (Morton Feldman)
Location: Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

January 29

Garrick Ohlsson, piano, winner of the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance - Skyline Piano Artist Series
Location: Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

February 5

Symphonic Wind Ensemble premieres commissioned work by Joel Puckett, conducted by Mallory Thompson
Location: Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

April 1

Performance of Crescent City (Victor Goines) with Branford Marsalis, Victor Goines and the Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra 
Location: Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

News: Victor Goines proves prowess as composer

April 2

Conversation with Branford Marsalis and Victor Goines
Location: Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

April 7-8

Sounding Spaces: A Workshop on Music, Urban Space, Landscape, and Architecture by musicology professors Inna Naroditskaya, Drew Davies and Ryan Dohoney
Location: Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall and David and Carol McClintock Choral and Recital Room

April 17

Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble premieres commissioned work by David Lang, conducted by Donald Nally and Alan Pierson
Location: Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

May 27 and 29

Performance of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony with Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, University Chorale and Bienen/Contemporary Early Vocal Ensemble
Location: Pick-Staiger Concert Hall (May 27), Chicago’s Millennium Park (May 29)

June 10-12

Horn Concerts, as part of the Peak Performance Horn Symposium
Locations: Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall (June 10), Pick-Staiger Concert Hall (June 11)


  • Donald Nally
  • Alan Pierson
  • Victor Goines
  • Mallory Thompson
  • Ben Bolter
  • Hans Thomalla